Pholiota aurivella

(Batsch) P. Kumm.

Developing caps on a fallen mature beech stem in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Young caps emerging from a cavity on box elder complete with a full veil in Basildon, Essex
A cluster of young caps with a varnished appearance on beech in the New Forest, Hampshire
The underside of a mature cap with rusted gills and partial ring in Pitsea, Essex
Desiccated mature caps at the base of ash in Pitsea, Essex

Developing caps on a fallen mature beech stem in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Young caps emerging from a cavity on box elder complete with a full veil in Basildon, Essex
A cluster of young caps with a varnished appearance on beech in the New Forest, Hampshire
The underside of a mature cap with rusted gills and partial ring in Pitsea, Essex
Desiccated mature caps at the base of ash in Pitsea, Essex
Developing caps on box elder in Laindon, UK.
The gills and stem detail of this species.
A young cap with a curved stipe on beech in the New Forest, UK.
Senescent and decaying caps at the base of ash in Pitsea, UK.
Over-mature fruit bodies at the base of ash in Laindon, UK.

Common name

Golden scalycap

Often found on

Ash and beech.

Sometimes found on

Various other deciduous broadleaves.

Location

Growing from the base of the tree or from cavities / wounding sites on the main trunk. Also growing from stumps and on fallen trees.

Description

Annual cap. Grows singularly or more commonly in groups. Stem golden-white and a little shaggy. Smooth above (partial) ring that begins as a full web protecting the gills. Cap surface golden orange, beginning scaly and sometimes smoothing off. Can adopt a near-varnished appearance. Gills creamy white becoming rustic gold-brown due to sporulation.

Confused with

Armillaria spp. (white spore); Gymnopilus junonius (not scaly); Pholiota squarrosa (very scaly and far less golden in appearance).

Significance

More research has been undertaken on Pholiota squarrosa, which is considered to facilitate in the failure of trees subject to an intense white rot with early-stage selective delignification. The golden scalycap may be attributed to similar eventualities though is, anecdotally, restricted more to dysfunctional areas of the host tree and potentially indicative of physiological decline. When found in abundance encircling a stem, investigations into stability may be necessary.